Arriving on Netflix today, just in time for International Women’s Day, is the German romantic drama-comedy, Faraway. The movie – directed by Vanessa Jopp – stars Naomi Krauss and Goran Bogdan, and follows the story of a woman called Zeynep, who finds a new path in life after she inherits a house in Croatia.
In the movie, Zeynep is a middle-aged woman who is unhappy with the way her life is panning out. Her mother recently passed away, her father is ill-tempered, her husband has no time for her, and her daughter is a moody teen who doesn’t treat her particularly well.
Zeynep appears to be stuck in a rut that she can’t get out of. That is until she discovers her recently deceased mother bought a secret house in Croatia, which she left to Zeynep in her will.
Keen to see the house for herself, Zeynep sets off to the property which is located on a clifftop, overlooking the sea. The house is a beautiful, rustic building, which benefits from stunning views, and is truly idyllic.
There is just one problem: The house currently has a tenant. While Zeynep’s mother had full ownership of the house, and this isn’t in question, for years she let a man called Josip live in the building rent-free, to look after it in her absence.
This is a significant issue for Zeynep, as she has plans to sell the house. However, the longer she remains in the property, the more she becomes attached to it (and to Josip), and she soon starts to rethink her outlook on life.
Could this building be more than just bricks and mortar? And could a little distance away from her family, offer her new opportunities for happiness?
Filmed partially in German and partially in English, Faraway is a light, enjoyable story about one woman’s journey of self-discovery. The movie looks at the way in which one person can change their perspective on the world, once they are given the chance to break away from the norm, and how a little distance can be a good thing.
Shot in some picturesque locations, and featuring a smattering of comedy and romance, the film looks good, and offers up suitable entertainment. In terms of its story, it doesn’t present anything Earth-shatteringly original, nor is it a film which is going to appeal to everyone, but what it does do, it does well.
This is a film which looks at someone in the second-half of their life, who has spent years building up a family, only to find themselves asking the question, what do I do now? Faraway then presents an answer of sorts, as Zeynep takes some important steps toward finding a new direction, and it offers some easy, carefree viewing along the way.
Occasionally the movie does touch upon some emotive sequences, and there are a couple of scenes which look at Zeynep’s grief, so it isn’t entirely whimsical in its approach. While the central theme of the movie is about moving forward, the catalyst for the story is the death of Zeynep’s mother, so it does delve into this subject from time-to-time.
In order to understand why her mother bought a house in Croatia, Zeynep has to learn more about her past. She has to understand what made her tick, and why she would spend money on a secret property that she would then gift to her daughter.
It is moments like these which add some real depth to the picture, and allow the heart of Faraway to shine through. For all its bright, breezy presentation, this film does have a bit of substance where it counts, and this stops it from being disposable fluff.
While Faraway isn’t a ground-breaking picture by any stretch, and I expect it will mostly appeal to an older age demographic who can relate to Zeynep’s situation, it is a decent movie. The film balances its comedic moments with its more heartfelt material, to offer up a story about the ups and downs of life, and it all plays out as intended.
Faraway is essentially the dictionary definition of a ‘nice film’, but hey, who doesn’t like ‘nice films’? It is perfectly fine for a lazy afternoon watch, when all you want is a bit of sunshine and positivity to brighten your day.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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